The Beauty of Science

By Julia Mordini

When we think of "science" we tend to think beakers and Bunsen burners. What if you threw in some facial scrub and lip balm?

That was the stroke of genius behind The Beauty of Science, a trade show of sorts masterminded by BSS science teacher and STEM strategic program leader Genny Lee. Together with a team of BSS teachers, a group of volunteer science students, the S-Club (science club), and a representative from the Canadian Association for Girls in Science (CAIGIS), Ms. Lee created a half-day learning experience that brought science together with everyday life. And for some girls, that means cosmetics.

At various demonstration booths science was used to create a popular cosmetic, like facial scrub or perfume. Girls in Grades 612 participated and discovered that each activity had its own idiosyncrasies. For example, chocolate chips had to be substituted for cocoa butter to avoid separation in the solidification process of the lip balms; key notes had to be determined ahead of time for perfume; and the facial scrub, resembling something lost for months in a refrigerator, had to be made more aesthetically pleasing so that “customers” wouldn’t recoil at the sight.

The event took science out of the textbook and into the daily lives of teenaged girls. What better way to explore science theory and application than by creating products girls use all the time? “The Beauty of Science provided the opportunity for girls to explore science on their own terms,” explains Ms. Lee.

Events such as this are being developed regularly at BSS with the help of faculty, students and external experts. They are designed to promote the STEM areas of study and help break down barriers to learning by appealing specifically to the way girls learn best.

“Girls love to learn in groups,” says BSS Head Kim Gordon, who has placed a strong focus on developing the STEM areas in her fi veyear strategic plan for the school. “They also respond best to real-life situations, pulling things out of the textbook and onto the table. This kind of activity [the Beauty of Science event] supports all that we know about how girls learn and offers a fresh, new way of looking at science.”

Rafaella D’Elia, a Grade 11 student and new science enthusiast, said she was not originally a member of the S-Club, but was intrigued by the prospect of creating cosmetics. “I got involved in the Beauty of Science event because I’d never really been involved with science outside of class. I thought the event would be a good way to literally get my hands on science.”

“I told them that they had to become experts,” says Ms. Lee of the responsibilities delegated to each team. “They had to be able to explain these products and instruct the students who visited their station.”

Rafaella feels that science can seem “dull and suffocating,” but the event proved otherwise to her. “It truly showed the students that science is a part of all aspects of our life and is certainly not just ‘men in white lab coats.’”

Even the younger students were enthralled by the demonstrations and the hands-on approach—literally. “I had dry skin on my thumb, and now it’s gone,” said a very pleased Sutton Raponi from Grade 6. “That makes the scrub table my favourite.” And that makes science relevant to students which, in turn, sparks their interest in learning more.

Taking the opportunity to expand the learning, Ms. Lee balanced the day’s focus by also highlighting some of the more controversial issues within the cosmetics industry; such as animal testing, the use of Botox, the carcinogenic ingredients of artificial hair dye and the potential side effects of alpha hydroxy.

The girls were so excited by the approach that they’ve cited a list of other areas they’d like to learn this way; such as the mechanics of cars, the chemistry of food, and the technologies used in forensic investigation.

“We have to keep up the momentum and interest of girls by hosting different events throughout the year... [with the goal of] breaking down perceptions of science as being difficult and boring,” says Ms. Lee.

For the students attending the Beauty of Science there wasn’t enough time to soak it all in. They wanted more information and continued to ask questions on their way out the door—lip balm and perfume sample in hand. Ms. Lee’s strategy is simple and effective. “When you tap into something that speaks to girls, and is relevant to them, you can definitely show them science is more than working in a lab or Albert Einstein’s theories. You show them that science is
a part of their lives.”


Posted January 24, 2008 at 11:17am






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